Warning-signal.



"A. N, HERMANf WARNINGlSIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED DEC.2, I9I2.

1,135,048. Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

IIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMunthaf ALEXANDER N. PIERMAN, E NEWARK,

NEW JERSEY.

WARNING-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 1 3, 1915.

Application filed December 2, 1912. Serial No. 734,472.

To all 'whom 'it may concern purpose, namely,

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER N. PIER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Warning-Signals, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to signaling devices for warning by means of sound, and may be used for any purpose for which such signaling devices can be utilized, but is particularly adapted for use on motorl vehicles, such as pleasure cars, motor trucks, and the like. Heretofore there have been two principal types of devices made use of for this the reed horn which is operated by pressing a rubber bulb or similar device, and the electrically operated signaling device.l which comprises a diaphragm and a m'egaphone` connected therewith and some means operated by the passing of an electrical current for 'setting the diaphragm into vibration, thus producing the sound for giving the desired warning.

The fields of service covered by each of the signaling means above referred to and now in general use are to a large extent distinct from one another, the usefulness of the reed or bulb horn being limited practically to city traiiic, and 4under conditions where the distance to which the warning signal is to be conveyed is not considerable, and where the speed of the motor vehicle is relatively slow; and the electrically operated signaling device covering the eld of use which corresponds to a more rapid operation of the vehicle, and being especially adapted for use in the open country where it may be desired to convey the sound for a considerable distance ahead and sometimes around a bend in the road. These conditions are well understood and it is therefore quite a usual thing to find a single motor vehicle equipped with both of these signaling 'devices. Nevertheless, although the fields of use of the two types of signaling devices referred to are largely distinct, a zone in which they may be said to'overlap and in which there is frequent necessity for a substantially instantaneous shift from one to the other; as,l for instance, the operator of the vehicle may vmake use of the reed horn for soundin a warnin to a person who has plenty o time to o serve the signal andY avoid collision with the vehicle,

y attention or y given by there exists and who is also within easy hearingidistance of the signal, but if, for any reason, as 1nbecause of the signal being drowned by extraneous noises, the signal the reedhorn is not observed, the occasion arises for the immediate and practically instantaneous use of the louder signal furnished by the electric horn, and inasmuch as in the arrangement heretofore made use ofthe actuating means of the two horns, namely, the bulb of the reed horn and the switch or push button -of the electrical horn, are separately arranged and situated perhaps at some distance from one another, there is opportunity and frequently likelihood of the necessary second and louder signal not being produced in time to prevent collision, or at least of it becoming necessary for the driver of the motor vehicle to slow down or stop the machine, when, if the signal could be readily and quickly produced as desired, no such occasion would arise. In the open country too, there is also frequent occasion for the immediate use of the electrically in conjunction with the reed horn. Drivers of wagons and other slow moving vehicles are likely to pay no attention to the reed horn, notwithstanding it is perfectly audible to them, whereas if the electrical horn is used the driver will move out of the way, in a more or less `involuntary fashion, -being compelled, as it were, by the insistent warning .of the electrical horn, to make way for the faster vehicle. It will be seen,there fore, that an arrangement which makes it possible for the warning signaling device of comparatively smaller volume, such as a.

reed horn, to be immediately supplemented at need with certainty, by a loud and insistent warning, such as may be furnished, for example, by the electrically operated signaling device, is extremely useful in a varietyof instances, and it is to fill this need that the invention ofV this application has been produced. This result can most effectively be secured by making use of a single means for operating at will either the signal of least loudness or the louder and harsher signal. When the bulb horn and an electrlcal signaling instrument are used, the switch for the latter may the bulb of the former, where it 1s protected, is out of the Way and out of sight. A xed switch member may conveniently be u'sed which may be attached to the imoperated signaling device,

be placed within e likely to be in the movable lstern of the horn bulb and the movableswitch member may be attached to the material of the horn bulb and movable therewith. When the movable switch member is attached vto the side walls of the horn bulb at any point, it partakes of the movement thereof at all times when the bulb is compressed. In order to cause the expulsion` of a current of air with suilicient force to sound an adequate signal by meansof a reed horn, it is necessary that the horn bulb be grasped about its greatest diameter and compression applied in such neighborhood, thereby causing the expulsion ofthe greatest amount of air possible. For this reason it may sometimes happen, when the movable switch member is carried by the sidev wall of the bulb, that the electrical signaling instrument will be operated by reason of the switch being closed when it is intended by the operator merely to produce warning blasts from the reed horn. The attachment of the lead wire or other electrical connection lwhen the movable switch memberis carried by the side walls of the horn bulb also presents some difliculty and the wire projecting from the side of the bulb is way.

It is practically impossible to create a. suficlent current of air to operate a reed horn by applying force at the end opposite the stem, .as unless the end of the bulbis brought very closely indeed to the stem, the amount ofair expelled by such action will be comparatively slight. In my improved structure, therefore,y I have attached the movable switch member to the horn bulb at the end thereof lopposite or substantially oppositethe ixedzstem, and I have secured the fixed switch member to the stem in such relation that in order to close the switch'- it is necessary that pressure be applied at the end of the' bulb opposite the stem. As in operation it frequently happens that the bulb is twisted somewhat or pushed somewhat to one side from its normal position, I have provided a iiexible connection between the movable 'switch member and the point of its attachment to the horn bulb, and in order to prevent the passage of current by contact of such' flexible member with the side walls of the bulb stem, I provide insulating means vwhich will obstruct the passage of current even though the flexible supporting member v is brought into contact with the side walls of the stem as for instance, by bending or twisting the hornbulb. I also carry the lead wire for the movable switch member in through or at the neck of the horn bulb so vthat such wire does not appear externally on the horn bulb at any point thereof.

Inasmuch as a horn or megaphone is necessary to be provided for the electrically operated horn, there is no necessity for providing a separate similar device for .the reed instrument but the tube containing the reed may be led directly into the megaphone for the electrically operated horn, thus considerably simplifying the device. This, however, while the preferred arrangement, is not essential, as it will be readily underst ood that while a single megaphone may be used for this purpose, in many instances it will be convenient to arrange the electrically operatedsignaling device and the reed horn operating device at a distance from each other, as for example, on different sides of the vehicle, in which case separate megaphones would naturally be made use of.

In equipping existing signaling instruments already installed on motor vehicles withy my invention, nothing is needed except the substitution ofv a'bulb and switch constructed in accordance with my invention, and of course, the necessary wiring for conducting the electric currentV Among the objects of the present invention are the arrangement of an electrical switch within the horn bulb and connections thereto in such manner that the electrical switch will not be operated by pres- 'sure applied to the side walls of the bulb,

no matter how forcibly the bulb may be compressed, and which will not be closed to opview, my invention consists in the parts, im-

provements and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

While I have illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is for the purpose of illustration only, and that my invention is not limited thereto, but is as broad as my claims.

In they drawings forming part of this specification and wherein the same reference numerals are applied to designate the same parts throughout, Figure 1 is a`view in central` cross-section of a horn bulb equipped with a form of switch embodying my invention and Fig. 2 is a view showing an electrically operated signaling instrument and a reed horn, both devices making use of a single megaphone and the horn bulb being shown partly in section. v

In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 is applied to thebulb of the penumatic signaling device, here shown as a reed horn, and 2 designates the tube for conveying the air to the vibrating reed which is shown in dotted lines at 3, and the continuation of the tube 2 is connected to the megaphone 4 of the electrically operated horn 5, which contains a diaphragm and :sol

electrically operated actuating means therefor not illustrated. This tube 2 may be connected to the megaphone in any desired manner, or if desired, a separate megaphone .may be provided for the reed horn.

Y The reference numeral 6 is applied to the stationary switch member which is preferably placed within the tube 2 and is so constructed as not to interfere with the passage of air therethrough. This stationary switch member preferably consists of a foraminous metallic plug inserted within the metallic eduction tube 2, and is preferably formed from material such as wire netting and provided with an external flange 7, in order to give it bearing within the tube- 2, and cuppedat-the center as shown at 8.

The movable switch member is indicated the reference .numeral 9 and preferably has the form of a metallic knob or button. The switch member 9 is borne by the free end of a flexible metallic member 10 which may be 'formed from coiled wire or the like and the flexible member 10 is secured to the horn bulb by means of any suitable fastening at the end thereof opposite the tube 2, the form of attachment shown consisting of the socket piece 11, to which the flexible member 10 is secured in any desired manner, as, for example, by being soldered thereto, and the socket piece 11 is provided with a stud 12 which is passed through an opening 13 provided in the horn bulb for that purpose and a washer or button lll-is secured thereon in any lconvenient manner, thus completing the fastening and closing the opening 13. A suitable insulating means such as a piece of rubber tubing 15 is made use of to cover the flexible member 10 where it projects within the tube 2, as so to prevent the passage of the electrical current except when the movable switch member'9 is brought into contact with the stationary switch .member 6, which c an be accomplished only by an endwise movement of the extreme end of the rubber bulb. A section of flexible wire 16 connects the socket piece 11 with the retaining ring 17 for holding the bulb in place ing passed through or beneath the rubber of the bulb at the neck thereof. The wires 18 and 19 for carrying the current for operating the electrically actuated signaling device are connected to the stationary and movable switchmembers respectively, the wire 18 being connected to the metallic eduction tube 2 leading from the horn bulb, and the wire 19 being connected by the binding screw 20 to the retaining ring 17L and being connected withv the movable switch vmember by means of the flexible wire 16 within the horn bulb.

The battery or other source of current is indicated by reference. numeral 21.

The operation of my improved device will on the tube 2, the wire bebe readily understood from the foregoing. lVhen it is desired to operate the neumatic signaling device such as the reedp horn the bulb 1 is compresed in the ordinary manner betweenA the fingers and thumb of they operator. The effect of such compression is to increase the distance between the switch members rather than to decrease it, the tendency created by applying pressure to the sides of the bulb to cause it to become somewhat elongated. If the bulb istwisted -or pushed to one side in sounding the pneumatic signaling device, the insulating means 15 will prevent the making of electrical contact between the movable switch member 9 or the flexible member 10 on which it is mounted with the horn tube 2, so that the switch will not be closed to permit the passage of electrical current to operate the electrical signaling device, unless pressure is applied on the end of the bulb for that pury metallic eduction tube therefor, -a fixed switch member within said tube and a movable switch member within said bulb and secured thereto at the end opposite said tube and projecting within the said tube, substantially as set forth.

2. In combinatlon, a hollow bulb, a metallic eduction tube therefor, a fixed switch f member in said tube, a movable switch member within said bulb, a flexible connection between said switch member and said bulb, the point of connection being at the end opposite said tube. substantialy as set forth.

3. In combination, a signaling device operated by fluid pressure and comprising a compressible bulb, and an electrically operated signaling device, and a switch compris- -ing two normally separated members both contained within the said bulb, the movable member being attached to the said bulb at the extreme end thereof opposite the tube, substantially as set forth. Y

4. In combination, a hollow bulb, a metallic Ieduction tube, a fixed switch member therein, a movable switch member, means for. flexibly connecting said movable switch member to the end of said bulb opposite said tube, and an insulating sleeve upon said flexible connecting means, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a hollow bulb, a fixed switch member therein, and al movable tion between said movable switch member and the wall of the bulb, and insulating means. surrounding said flexible connecting means, substantially as set forth.

7 In combination, a hollow bulb, a metaly lic eduction tube therefor, metallic means for retaining said bulb on said tube, a fixed switch member in electrical contact with said tube and a movable switch member in `said bulb and in electrical contact with said retaining means, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination, a hollow bulb, a metallic eduction tube, a metallic ring for retaining said bulb upon said tube, a fixed switch member within said tube, a movable switch member connected to the wall of the said l conducting means `between said retaining'ring and said movable switch member, substantially as set forth.

9.` In combination, a hollow bulb, a metallic eduction tube therefor, a fixed switch member within sa'id eduction tube, a. movable switch member attached to the inner bulb, and an electrical 3:01 wall of the bulb, insulating means for. protecting the movable switch member from electrical contact with the interior of the eduction tube, metallic means for retaining` said bulb upon said tube and flexible means of 'electrical connection between said. re-

taining means and said movable switch, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination, a hollowbulb, a meand Iiexibly tallic eduction tube, a plug of wire gauze in `said eduction tube serving' as a switch mem'- ber, and a movable switch member within said bulb and secured thereto at the end opposite said tube, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination, a hollow bulb,'a metallic eduction therein, a movable switch member flexibly connected to said bulb at the end opposite said tube and provided with an sleeve, means for, retaining said bulb upon said tube, and means of electrical connection between said retaining means and said movable `switch member and a source of electrical current, thev poles whereof are con= nected respectively to said eduction tube and said retaining means., forth. l

l2. In combination, eduction tube, ingsaid bulb at the end thereof opposite the eduction tube and firmly secured thereto, a coil of exible wire secured to said fastening` means, a movable switch member carried a hollow bulb, an

substantially as set tube, a fixed switch member insulating a fastening device penetratj by `said coil, the said `coil and switch member projecting within the said tube, an insulatingr sleeve` upon member within said tube and co-acting with said movable ,switch member, substantially said coil and a fixed switch 

